April Pictorial Competition: It's not all about winning

April 19, 2010
Livermore Valley Camera Club

Everytime Color Pictorial Competition (Print and Projected Images) comes, it's always a big, busy and competitive night. As we get bigger (population wise), the competition gets tougher as well. More new pro are coming in and old timers getting better and better.

How do I pick what images to enter?...For me, competition is not all about winning, it's also about LEARNING. We are entitled to enter maximum of 2 images and my strategy is to enter one that will give favorable comments from the judge (and hopefully will win ☻) and a not-so-good one so I know where I can improve my skills.


PRINT Color Pictorial: Honorable Mention
Ventura Sunset

judge commentary: It's simple, though not a spectacular sunset, but I like it. It's something that you will hang on your wall and look at. It's relaxing. The clouds, the light on the water, and little bit of the mountain are interesting.

PRINT Color Pictorial: not a winner

Subway Light, New York

judge commentary: Someone saw interesting in the subway. I would just crop and focus on the light on the ceiling. Crop the fluorescent light and the lower part (floor) as well. But I like the fact what the photographer saw and made an interesting image of

the subway.

PROJECTED Pictorial Competition: Honorable Mention

The Silhouette Of The Foggy Tree, Mission Peak CA

judge commentary: The tree is sharp and stand out in a foggy day. I like the position of the tree and the sun. I also like the inclusion of

the hill below as foundation. Very nice composition. It's simple and yet well done.

PROJECTED Pictorial Competition: not a winner

Beach Comber, Pismo Beach CA

judge commentary: he's looking to the photographer and I don't know what he's doing. I would tone down the lights on the top.

A good balance of winning and losing is important. If you just win all the time, you won't get anything out of it; having some tough losses can be really important. ~ Andrew Shue

[click the images to enlarge]

Anything Goes: When I get to compete with the Masters

For the first time in the history of LVCC - March 26 Anything Goes "Fun" Night Competition

• not rated (no outsider judge, instead we judge other photographer's work)
• new rules: we compete with everybody, one cannot vote their own work and can only vote once on each category.

[In a regular meeting competition, we compete based on our level: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and the Masters; we have an invited "outsider" judge to critique our work and any winning images will be sent to Northern California Council Of Camera Clubs N4C.]

Exciting isn't it?...but what's the chance of winning if you get to compete with the Advanced and Master photographers?....Then I thought "If I carefully review and select the best images from my collection and let Creativity kicks in, I will have the chance to get some vote and never think about winning. Besides, it's a Fun Night!"

How did I do?....

Architecture: Milwaukee Art Museum
1st place: Marichu Pereira
total #images: 19

comments from the photographers:
1. Wow!
2. It will draw your eyes to the Museum.
3. Good light!
4. I like the detail and the shadow...
5. I never thought that you can submit in Monochrome.

my commentary: I'm never good in Monochrome but I decided to do and submit in Black&White. This is the Milwaukee Art Museum in Wisconsin last Spring 2009 which I recommend that you add it in your list. If it's not windy, the roof will open up and will look like a sailboat. Inside it's like a Star Trek space ship.


Post Card: Plumas County: Fall Season
total #images: 16
comments from the photographers:
1. I like the inclusion of the Highway sign.
2. I love the Yellow flowers sitting on the red foliage. And the right Depth Of Field effect.

Not a winner BUT a runner up - a tight competition with the winning image from the Master (our club's president). Missed by one point for a tie-breaker (I voted on his image).

Fashion: Blue Jersey Dress: Express Your True NATURE
total #images: 19
comments from the photographers:
1. Wow! did you go to Napa for the Mustard?
2. You can enter this also in Creative Competition

Not a winner but a runner up - I get to compete with the Master (my photographer)! At the end of the night he came to me and said "Marichu, I thought you're going to beat me again!




Other Pictorial: The Wicked Camper
Not a winner. I just threw it in there...simply for fun :D






To win and to become competitive with the Masters (rated or not) means alot to me...To get the majority vote of my fellow photographers has a big effect in my self-confidence ~ an assurance that I'm capable of producing winning and competitive images especially when I least expect it (Monochrome:Black&White).



If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing ~ Marc Chagal

[clcik on the images to enlarge]

My CROSS Collection: Easter Sunday

What's in my CROSS...

I started my CROSS Collection when I first captured "The Shroud Of The Missions", my 2009 fave cross photograph and was featured in my July 2009 blog. (Blog Archive for older posts can be accessed on the lower left of my blog main page).
http://www.thefearlesseye.com/2009/07/shroud-of-missions_12.html#comments


Then my "Sunset Cross", my fave cross this year. The position of the cross in this sunset photograph brings many thoughts of the meaning behind it. It's meditative and the clouds are so dramatic.




"Bird's Cross"
Some people are drawn to birds, some to palm tree, some to silhouette, and some to cross. If you can get all these 4 elements, you get the whole package in my "Bird's Cross".

"Simply Cross"

Cross is not always about a place of worship or a house of prayer. This is a cross from an old graveyard behind an old church. It's leaning but not attached on the wall. It's simplicity is a beauty.





"Mt. Soledad Memorial Cross"
A 29-foot cross dedicated on April 29, 1954 to honor Korean War veterans who have served our country and to educate the general public about service and the sacrifices that veterans make to preserve the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.

"Easter Cross"

Today is Easter Sunday. The date varies because it is determined using a calculated lunar calendar. It is the first Sunday approximately after the first full moon on or after the March equinox. Many Christians celebrate Jesus Christ's resurrection on Easter Sunday.

So, what's in my CROSS....CROSS is a big part of me. It's about my Faith and about the most important person in my life. Everytime I look up and look down on the CROSS, it reminds me not only about Christ but also my mom who died five years ago on Easter Sunday.

Have a meaningful Easter Sunday everyone!

The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances.

~Robert Flatt

[click on the image to enlarge]